I have been looking at numerous posts just hoping I do not re-post or repeat what has been discussed years before. I found some interesting stuff on here Two drawings of the Woodside Ventilation Station for the Queensway tunnel beneath the River Mersey. The drawings are from a battered copy of The Story of the Mersey Tunnel Officially Named Queensway published by Charles Birchall and Sons (1934).
There has been lots posted on here about the Queensway tunnel and the ventilation shafts, but there's no harm in resurrecting old threads. The Woodside shaft is most impressive if you get up close. Although I can't now remember the details, I know it was built using one single brick of unusual dimensions (something like 10" x 3" x 2 1/2"), set in different orientations. I think Rowse did a great job on all aspects of the tunnel design. This, of course, has nothing to do with the rail tunnel ventilation shaft mentioned in the market thread, which is about 40 years earlier.
There has been lots posted on here about the Queensway tunnel and the ventilation shafts, but there's no harm in resurrecting old threads. The Woodside shaft is most impressive if you get up close. Although I can't now remember the details, I know it was built using one single brick of unusual dimensions (something like 10" x 3" x 2 1/2"), set in different orientations. I think Rowse did a great job on all aspects of the tunnel design. This, of course, has nothing to do with the rail tunnel ventilation shaft mentioned in the market thread, which is about 40 years earlier.
The search function is not good on this site and I could not find a specific thread regarding the shaft so no harm in creating a new thread. Regarding the market thread you are correct. The similar design threw me off with the one on Taylor st I get a bit excited at times
Originally Posted by Excoriator
Can't see these images. Pity. I'm sure they are interesting.
Excoriator, if you click on the link I posted and scroll down the page both pictures are there The inside workings are fascinating and the design is something else I often wonder why they are different than the liverpool side shafts
The search function is not good on this site and I could not find a specific thread regarding the shaft so no harm in creating a new thread.
Problem is the three year limit on searches. The threads on Queensway and the shafts are older than that. Do you know that if you're searching for a phrase, you need to put it in quotes? Having said that, I agree; the search function could be better.
I often wonder why they are different than the liverpool side shafts
The Liverpool shafts were clad in Portland stone to fit with their surroundings. Brick suited the Birkenhead side better, in the view of the tunnel committee.
That 3 year search is what has thrown me I would do a search older than a year, 2 years and then 3 years After that I gave up Just done an older than 6 years search and found one here Cheers Chris
Sorry Mikeeb, but I still can't see them. I have clicked on all the links I can find with no joy. Thanks for trying to help however.
I was brought up in the South Wales valleys. Our village had a disused mine which was a fine place for a boy to explore. The mine had two shafts going down vertically over half a mile. They had been capped, but you could get to them through the ventilation system. The centrifugal fan blades were. truly enormous - maybe eight feet by about twelve - driven by a shaft some twelve inches or more in diameter. The (Steam) engine that drove them had gone for salvage, sadly.
You had to climb through this fan which was in a massive brick line enclosure to get to a gently sloping brick lined tunnel perhaps ten feet square which led to the updraft shaft.
From there one could drop bricks down the half mile drop which made a splendid thunderous boom when they hit the bottom.
When I think of the risks we took as ten year olds, I shudder, and my legs turn to jelly! Just as well our parents were unaware of the risks we took. We had all been strictly forbidden from playing there. But at that age, one is immortal. Fortunately we all survived it, but it has left me with a fascination for large ventilation systems.
You are right about being invincible as kids though It is a miracle we are still alive when I think back Try this link clicky Some great architects sketches by Rowse clicky Notice the sketch for the front of Sidney st is almost identical to North John st I wonder why there are 3 on the Birkenhead side whilst there is only 2 over in Liverpool
Just found the third shaft in Liverpool. New Quay, thanks to a previous thread. I was going off an Echo story "The Birkenhead Queensway tunnel is serviced by five working ventilation shafts, including the Grade II-listed building in North John Street" http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseysides-hidden-treasures---day-3369858 Does that mean one of them is not in operation today?
